The Indian Youth Congress (IYC) has deleted a promotional video for its November 1 ‘Chalo Delhi’ rally after facing online criticism over footage that appeared to depict a man secretly photographing women on a street at night. The post, captioned “Kinda chic tho??”, sparked debate over whether the campaign crossed the line between Gen Z outreach and the normalisation of harassment.
The approximately 20-second clip showed a man using his phone’s flashlight to record three women walking at night. He then appeared to take several photographs before scrolling through them on his phone. A poster promoting the rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan was visible on one woman’s phone as he zoomed in on her picture.
The video was criticised by social media users who questioned why imagery resembling stalking was being used to promote a political event.
Youth Congress President Responds to Controversy
IYC president Uday Bhanu did not provide a direct explanation for the video’s intended message. He said stalking should not be encouraged and clarified that the organisation’s IT Cell handled its social media content.
Bhanu also questioned why the IT Cell had posted the clip, saying it was not possible for him to approve every video shared online.
Following the backlash, the Youth Congress deleted the promotional post. However, its response to critics also attracted attention. The organisation dismissed some of its online opponents and redirected the discussion towards the Ankita Bhandari murder case, raising questions about women’s safety and political accountability.
BJP Leaders and Social Media Users Criticise the Clip
BJP leader Vishnu Vardhan Reddy accused the Youth Congress of normalising stalking and harassment through its campaign. Other social media users questioned whether the video trivialised street harassment and inappropriate photography.
The controversy has highlighted the risks political organisations face when using provocative or trend-driven content to engage younger audiences. While the post was intended to promote a rally, critics argued that its imagery could be interpreted as making unwanted surveillance of women appear acceptable.
What Is the November 1 Chalo Delhi Rally About?
The rally is scheduled to take place at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan and is expected to draw a large gathering of opposition supporters. The INDIA bloc plans to protest alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and demand the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The Congress has described the protest as part of its broader campaign against what it calls “vote chori”, arguing that electoral integrity is essential to protecting democracy and the Constitution.
The deleted video has added an unexpected controversy to the campaign, shifting attention from the rally’s political demands to questions about social media messaging and women’s safety.
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